BART taps Bombardier for more cars

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 exercised an option worth $638.9 million for an additional 365 cars from Bombardier Transportation, as part of BART's "fleet of the future" program, which now ratchet the total number of vehicles on order to 775.

BART's Board of Directors said the decision will save around $128 million because it includes an agreement with Bombardier to accelerate delivery by 21 months and provide five vehicles free-of-charge. The new trains will completely replace the existing BART fleet of 669 vehicles, built by Rohr Industries or by Alstom.

The first of the new trains from the initial order, which was placed in June 2012, is due to arrive within two years, with the remainder scheduled for delivery between early 2017 and 2021. The vehicles will be assembled at Bombardier's plant in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

"Replacing our existing fleet is essential to BART's commitment to be a world class, sustainable public transportation system," said Bart President Tom Radulovich. "The cars we've approved today will better serve our riders and help accommodate growing ridership as the Bay Area population expands and we extend into Silicon Valley."